Removing Rubber from Old Rims.....
 

I've got to the point that i'm nearly out of B3 rims and rather then having to find any on Ebay etc, does anyone know of an easy way to get Tyres or just scraps of rubber from old rims?

I must have 100 sets with knackered tyres on so would really love to be able to use them again (including the Foams)!

In the old days we would boil them for a while in a pan, then pull off as much of the tyre as possible but would still have to file away the small bits of rubber left on the rim which took ages.... surely there must be an easier way??

Look forward to hearing what you all suggest....

Thanks.

acetone. - get a sealed tupperware type container that you can lock the lid on and get a air tight seal. works great.

Hey Jimmy, where can i get acetone? Also, do you have to completely submerge the rims, or just cover them in it?? How long do you need to leave etc, and do they just pull off after?

you can have the acetone a couple of mm deep if you want and do one side at a time. or totally submerge them. I think you MIGHT even be able to get them off with just the fumes but that might take weeks!

they will just pull off with no effort..
Yellow and blue schumachers dont get damaged by it, greens do if you leave them in too long (they go hard).
Foams in my experience don't really get effected (the foams I use) people tend to claim they do - but these people don't get all the acetone (and glue) out of the foams, they need to be totally wringed out. or even washed in some clean acetone after..
The thing that ruins foams is washing them whilst they have the aceton/glue still on them. the water hardens the disolved glue. they do baloon up larger than normal in aceton but shrink back down when dry.

Oven

100c or gas mk?? for 10 to 15 mins

does mine a treat
make sure no ones in though as it pongs a bit :p

a veg steamer the ones with timer are also spot on;)

i agree with jimmy use acetone

I would normally cut the tires off jeaving jst the beading pull the foam off meaning more wheels can go in at once. leave them there overnight and the left over tire falls off.

the only time i put the whole tire in is if its worth saving normally when the foam has split otherwise the tires are normally shot and not worth saving

B3 rims Nick ? we may have a few, will bring em along next time, I believe John at ModelImages carries acetone.

Jordan & Mick

both heat methods alter the rims shape and tensile strength
tyred it and stopped doing it, also make the house smell

I can get my hands on quite a bit of Acetone. Sadly I won't be able to get it past security at work.

I'm sort of in the same boat. The last B3 rims I did I boiled then dremelled the excess off. The superglue dust is probably quite nasty.

I get my rims from Tower Hobbies.

OK, not the most useful post.

Elliott.

For acetone try a beauty shop wholesalers or any supermarket (nail varnish remover)

Try not to do this method if you're having dust, superglue in any form isnt good for your health.. neither is acetone fumes, but if used correctly (air tight container, and not breathing the fumes) then this is the best, and safest method imo.

acetone is ace - bends your mind :p

*just kidding, dont sniff it!

lmao, jimmy man!

I've seen your cauldren of acetone, tis crazeh.

and dont smoke will using it,not good at all :mad:
i heard that there may be or is already, new laws governing the sale of it in large ish quantitys, because terrorist were using it in bombs??
rumour mill engaged

Acetone is a mild carcinogen, I found out a couple of months ago after 8 years of contact.

don't use nail varnish remover as the acetone content is fairly low so takes ages.
You can get acetone from most fibreglass places. I got a 5 litre tin for £5 (but the postage was £9!). I've had it over a year and am no where near half way down. Just make sure the container is air tight as it evaporates pretty quick. Also drain/wring off any excess back into the tub.

I've got an old air-tight tupperware box i can use, but i've just read somewhere that Acetone can melt certain plastics so i guess i'll just have to hope it will be ok :D

The box i've got is rather large so i was hoping to get a load in there at a time so i can get a bulk load of wheels sorted.

Think what i'll do is what someone else suggested and cut the tyres off first, rescue the foams then there's only the small rim of rubber to remove.

So say i've got my tub with a thin layer of acetone at the bottom, how long should i leave the rims in there to guarantee the rubber coming off ok?

Nick

Put the wheels in the accetone for approx 24hrs, then as Jimmy said the old tyre should fall off. If you have excess glue on the rim leave it in the accetone for another 12-24hrs and they should be spotless. Run them under water after, this will neutralise the accetone.

P

My advice is to give them a wipe before washing - even a wipe with a cloth soaked in acetone. it just gets any glue residue off.

It DOES indeed totally melt some plastics, indeed some wheels. Those cheap ones from Tamiya like on the mini cars melt. and the original predator x10 wheels I am told (tho not the newest ones?) but most wheels are totally fine.